UEFA should move Champions League final and end Gazprom deal — EU parliament

European lawmakers have asked UEFA to move this season’s Champions League final away from Russia and to stop considering Russian cities for international football events.

The group of politicians have also called on UEFA to sever ties with Russian state energy company Gazprom, who sponsor the Champions League, after Vladimir Putin unleashed a military attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A letter sent to UEFA from a group of politicians in the European parliament said: “We call on you to stop considering St. Petersburg and other Russian cities as venues for international football competitions and to choose as a first and very urgent step an alternative venue for the Champions League final on May 28, 2022.

“In addition, we appeal to you to convene a special meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee, to terminate cooperation with Gazprom as UEFA sponsor and to consider sanctions against individual Russian officials who are complicit in the violation of international law.”

The Athletic understands that UEFA is currently drawing up contingency plans over where to host this season’s Champions League final, with the 68,000-capacity Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg looking increasingly likely to be stripped of European football’s showpiece event.

UEFA has come under increased pressure to move the final, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling the House of Commons on Tuesday: “A Russia that is more isolated, a Russia that has pariah status — (there is) no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries.

“A Russia that is engaged in a bloody and debilitating conflict with a fellow Slav country. What an appalling result for President Putin.”

Football Supporters Europe meanwhile called for an “imminent announcement” over arrangements for the final after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on Thursday.

“On this tragic day, our thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine, our friends, colleagues, members, & their loved ones,” an FSE statement on Twitter read.

“Given the events unfolding, we expect an imminent announcement from UEFA on the relocation of the Champions League final from Saint-Petersburg.”

(Photo: Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)